Our 2021 Top Three Environmental Recoveries list includes enforcement actions against automakers, metal producers, and pipeline companies.
Our Top Three Environmental Fraud Recoveries of 2021 are:
1. Toyota
For the third year in a row, an automaker makes its way to the first place on the leaderboard with a $180 million settlement. Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to pay to settle the federal government’s claims that it systematically violated Clean Air Act reporting requirements for defects in emission control parts. Toyota also admitted to routinely filing reports to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) late, or in some cases, failing to file the reports at all. This is the biggest emission-related civil reporting penalty ever negotiated said the Prosecutor who handled this case.
The number two spot is for the largest producer of magnesium metal in the Northern Hemisphere, U.S. Magnesium, for alleged illegal disposal of hazardous waste at its Rowley, Utah facility. In addition, the company will spend $37 million to implement the terms of the settlement, and extensive process modifications at the facility in order to reduce the impact of its production operations and ensure better protection for its employees. A civil penalty of $250,000 was also imposed on U.S. Magnesium.
3. Summit and Meadowlark Pipelines Companies
Summit Midstream Partners LLC takes third place on our list with a $35 million settlement. The pipeline companies were responsible for the largest-ever inland oil spill. Their pipeline rupture was discovered after 29 million gallons of oil-contaminated “produce water” was negligently discharged over a period of 143 days. Summit Midstream, pleaded guilty to criminal charges for violating the Clean Water Act, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 for failing to take adequate measures to detect a spill of oil-contaminated water from their pipelines and providing incomplete and misleading information to government officials.
Do you have a valid claim?
If you witnessed any widespread suspicious activity within your workplace, you might have a chance of becoming a whistleblower by reporting an ongoing fraudulent scheme. However, to increase your chances of success, you must be sure to back up your claim with substantial evidence or privileged information.
A Quick Whistleblower Checklist
Is the fraudulent scheme widespread enough?
Has the fraud been perpetuated for years or involves large sums of money?
Do you possess any physical evidence of the fraud (documents, forged signatures)?
Do you have access to privileged information which may help our investigators?
Do you work as an insider within the company perpetrating the fraud?
Did you witness any ongoing illegal behavior within your workplace?
Have you been forced into taking part in any suspicious corporate activity?
